A new prosecution witness in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami Monday claimed that some Pakistan army personnel along with local razakars and al-Badr members had committed massacre in his village on December 3, 1971.
At the International Crimes Tribunal 1, freedom fighter Jane Alam, 60, said at least 70-72 houses of his village, Brishalikha of Shahjadpur in Pabna, had been set on fire that night.
After his deposition, the defence cross examined him. Later the tribunal set August 25 for the next witness in the case.
On May 28 last year, Nizami was indicted on 16 counts of crimes against humanity he allegedly committed in Pabna and Dhaka during the 1971 Liberation War. The charges include genocide, rape, torture, abduction, confinement and conspiracy.
After the deposition, the prosecution asked him whether he could identify the accused. The witness said “no,” even though Nizami was present in the dock. Then the courtroom broke into laughter.
Tribunal member Justice Anwarul Haque then asked him to come out of the witness’s box and search the court room. After checking the entire room he found Nizami in the dock. Defence counsel Mizanul Islam argued that there was no provision to get out of the witness’s box and search the court room to identify the accused. The prosecution then told the tribunal that the witness could not find Nizami as the room was big.
During his deposition, the witness said: “On December 3, 1971, when I went to see my family in my village from our camp in Shahjadpur; members of razakar, al-Badr and Pakistani army raided our village. Then I fled from there. The next day I along with my fellows went to my village and saw the situation. ”
He claimed that at least 70-72 houses had been put on fire. “We heard that one Sohrab was tortured by bayonet and later shot dead.”
Jane Alam also said Shashthi, Vadu, Monu, Profulla and Pintu were among those who had been killed that day. The witness told the tribunal that he heard from senior villagers that the massacre had taken place following the order of Nizami, then president of Islami Chhatra Sangha, the student wing of Jamaat. “And upon his order, razakar Rafikun Nabi alias Bablu led the massacre and committed these crimes.”
Earlier, 15 witnesses testified against Nizami one of who was declared “hostile” as he did not mentioned the name of the accused in his deposition.
